CN100593473C - Liquid container - Google Patents

Liquid container Download PDF

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Publication number
CN100593473C
CN100593473C CN200510135050A CN200510135050A CN100593473C CN 100593473 C CN100593473 C CN 100593473C CN 200510135050 A CN200510135050 A CN 200510135050A CN 200510135050 A CN200510135050 A CN 200510135050A CN 100593473 C CN100593473 C CN 100593473C
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
ink tank
ink
light
unit
led
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CN200510135050A
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Chinese (zh)
Other versions
CN1803458A (en
Inventor
北畠健二
林崎公之
畑佐延幸
落合贵之
渡边伸二
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Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
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Publication date
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of CN1803458A publication Critical patent/CN1803458A/en
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Publication of CN100593473C publication Critical patent/CN100593473C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17566Ink level or ink residue control
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17543Cartridge presence detection or type identification
    • B41J2/17546Cartridge presence detection or type identification electronically
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01Ink jet
    • B41J2/17Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17566Ink level or ink residue control
    • B41J2002/17573Ink level or ink residue control using optical means for ink level indication

Abstract

A liquid container that can present various information using illumination of a light-emitting unit includes an IC package having a storage element and the light-emitting unit. The storage element stores information used for controlling the amount of light emitted from an LED included in the light-emitting unit, so that variation in brightness of the light-emitting unit can be reduced and the information can be adequately presented.

Description

Ink tank
Technical field
The present invention relates to a kind of liquid container of the liquid of ink and recording equipment that uses this liquid container of for example being used to store.In particular, the present invention relates to for example luminous liquid container that presents various information of the luminescence unit of light emitting diode (LED) of a kind of utilization, and the recording equipment that utilizes this liquid container.
Background technology
In recent years, along with digital camera obtains to use more widely, a kind of recording method that is referred to as not have the PC record comes into vogue, and wherein the printer that digital camera is connected directly to as recording equipment writes down operation, and does not need to use personal computer (PC).In addition, the no PC record of other type also catches on, and the card-like information storage medium that wherein will be used for digital camera is connected directly to printer, is used for transfer of data, to write down operation.On the other hand, utilize PC on monitor, to check amount of ink remaining in the printer ink water pot usually.Therefore, in no PC record, need under the situation of not utilizing PC, check amount of ink remaining in the ink tank.Only remain small volume of ink if the user knows in ink tank, the user just can change this ink tank with new ink tank before the opening entry operation, thereby can prevent to take place in the record operation because the record failure that the ink shortage causes.
Be used to inform that the typical structure of user's ink tank state comprises display element, for example a LED.A kind of structure that has two LED on the ink tank that integrates with record head is disclosed among the Japanese Patent Application Publication No.4-275156.These two LED open in two steps according to ink remaining amount.Similarly, a kind of structure that comprises the lamp of opening according to ink remaining amount is disclosed among the Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2002-301829.In the structure according to Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2002-301829, each in four ink tanks that use in the recording equipment all has the lamp that is used to inform user's ink remaining amount.
On the other hand, in order to satisfy, except four looks (black, yellow, magenta and cyan) ink, also use the ink of low-density color, for example light magenta and nattierblue with the demand of high-quality document image more.In addition, also use the ink of special color, for example red ink and blue ink.In each case, many ink tanks (for example seven or eight ink tanks) are installed independently in recording equipment.Therefore, need one to be used to prevent each ink tank is installed in mechanism on the errors present.U.S. Patent No. 6,302,535 have disclosed a kind of like this structure, and wherein each bonding part between each installation unit and ink tank that each is corresponding has different shapes, thereby when being installed in ink tank on the balladeur train, prevent from each ink tank is installed on the wrong position.
Usually, because the variation in making, even all LED are connected in the same circuit and apply the electric current of same amount, LED also may send the light of different amounts.Therefore, the light quantity sent of the LED that is provided with on the ink tank may all be different concerning each LED.For example, when the LED on the ink tank flicker when notifying user's ink remaining amount low, some LED may emit a brilliant light, and other LED may send dull light.In this case, can think that with regard to existing the user difference of brightness represents the different danger between the ink tank state.For example, the user may think the relatively large ink of residue in the ink tank with bright LED, and in ink tank with dark LED the more a spot of ink of residue.Therefore, if the brightness difference of the LED on the ink tank, the user can take for the certain implication of difference representative of brightness.This has destroyed the function of informing user's ink remaining amount.
In the time of other light-emitting component outside the use LED, also there is similar problem.For example, when on each of a plurality of ink tanks lamp being set, because the difference of performance, the light quantity that lamp sends may be different because of each lamp.Still in this case, when ink tank quantity increases, more be easy to generate the difference of visual brightness.
Summary of the invention
The present invention relates to a kind of luminous liquid container that presents various information that utilizes luminescence unit, it can reduce the variation of luminescence unit brightness, thus presentation information exactly.The invention still further relates to the recording equipment that comprises this liquid container.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of ink tank that is used to be installed on the ink jet recording device is provided, described ink jet recording device comprises the installation unit that ink tank can be installed, described ink tank accommodates the ink that is used for ink jet recording device, and described ink tank comprises: luminescence unit; The electric contact of the signal of telecommunication that reception is provided by ink jet recording device; Light guide member, it comprises the light entrance unit that is used to receive the light that described luminescence unit sends; The display light outlet port unit, the light that its output enters by described light entrance unit is spread the light that the back produces; And information storage medium, it stores the peculiar information of described ink tank, wherein, described information storage medium stores is divided into the class information that a plurality of grades are set by sending the light quantity of exporting from described display light outlet port unit via described light guide member from described luminescence unit.As a result, can pass through each liquid container presentation information fully.
From detailed description, can understand further feature of the present invention below in conjunction with the exemplary of accompanying drawing.
Description of drawings
Figure 1A, 1B and 1C are respectively according to the side view of the ink tank of first embodiment of the invention, front view and upward view.
Fig. 2 A is used to explain Figure 1A, and the schematic side elevation of the light guide member function that comprises in the ink tank shown in 1B and the 1C, Fig. 2 B are the zoomed-in views of the major part of Fig. 2 A;
Fig. 3 A and 3B are respectively side view and front view, are used to be presented at Figure 1A, the example of the substrate that comprises in the ink tank shown in 1B and the 1C.
Fig. 4 is the perspective view that the ink-jet printer of this ink tank can be installed.
To be ink-jet printer shown in Figure 4 cover perspective view under the open mode this ink-jet printer master to Fig. 5.
Fig. 6 shows the view in the example of ink-jet printer shown in Figure 4 and the signal wiring construction between the ink tank.
Fig. 7 shows the view of luminous sequential of the luminescence unit of the ink tank that comprises in ink-jet printer shown in Figure 4.
Fig. 8 A and 8B show the view of the luminous pattern of the luminescence unit that is used for ink tank.
Fig. 9 is the circuit diagram according to the IC plug-in unit of the ink tank of second embodiment of the invention.
Figure 10 shows the view of the luminous sequential of LED shown in Figure 9.
Figure 11 shows the schematic diagram of the testing circuit that is used to detect the light quantity that LED shown in Figure 9 sends.
The specific embodiment
First embodiment
With reference to these accompanying drawings these embodiments of the present invention are described below.
Figure 1A, 1B and 1C are respectively side view, front view and the upward views according to the ink tank that is used as liquid container of first embodiment of the invention.In the following description, " front side " of ink tank be meant user oriented with allow to handle ink tank (for example installation and removal) and be the user provide information (luminous from display unit, a side as described later).
With reference to Figure 1A, 1B and 1C, the ink tank 1 of the present embodiment has supporting member 3, and it is supported on the front side of ink tank 1 at the lower area place of ink tank 1.Supporting member 3 is formed from a resin, and is integral with the shell of ink tank 1.As described later, when being installed in ink tank 1 on the tank bracket, supporting member 3 can be around the support section motion.Ink tank 1 has first bonding part 5 on rear surface and front surface respectively and 6, the second bonding parts 6, second bonding part become one with supporting member 3 in the present embodiment.First bonding part 5 and second bonding part 6 engage with lock part on being arranged on tank bracket, thereby ink tank 1 can be fixedly mounted on the tank bracket.
Ink supply aperture 7 is set on the bottom surface of ink tank 1, and it combines with the ink entry that is arranged on as described later on the record head, supply ink when being installed in ink tank 1 on the tank bracket.The position of intersecting in the bottom side and the front side of ink tank 1 on the bottom side of the support section of supporting member 3 is provided with basal component.Basal component can be a sheet or tabular.In the following description, substrate 100 is described to an embodiment of basal component.Similar with supporting member 3, the light guide member 121 that forms by resin between supporting member 3 and ink tank 1 the position and the shell of ink tank 1 form an integral body.
The 26S Proteasome Structure and Function of the major part of the present embodiment is described below with reference to Fig. 2 A, 2B, 3A and 3B.Fig. 2 A is the schematic side elevation that is used for explaining the function of the light guide member 121 that the ink tank 1 according to first embodiment of the invention comprises, Fig. 2 B is the zoomed-in view of the major part of Fig. 2 A.Fig. 3 A and 3B are respectively side view and front view, have shown the embodiment of the control substrate 100 of the ink tank 1 that is mounted to first embodiment.
With reference to figure 2A, with have record head 105 ' head unit 105 all-in-one-piece supports 150 comprise first lock part 155 and second lock part 156, they engage with first bonding part 5 and second bonding part 6 of ink tank 1 respectively.Therefore, ink tank 1 is mounted to support 150 securely.In this state, be arranged on the electrode pad 102 as the contact (referring to Fig. 3 B) that is provided with on the surface outside the facing of contact 152 on the support 150 (below be referred to as connector) and substrate 100 in ink tank 1 and contact, so that electrical connection to be provided.
The inboard of ink tank 1 is divided into the ink accommodating chamber of being arranged near the front side 11 and the vacuum generator accommodating chamber (not shown) of being arranged near rear side.The vacuum generator accommodating chamber communicates with ink supply aperture 7, and is connected to ink accommodating chamber 11.Ink I directly is stored in the ink accommodating chamber 11, and for example the ink absorption part that can be soaked with ink of sponge and fiber module (not showing, below for conveniently being referred to as porous member) is arranged in the vacuum generator accommodating chamber.Porous member is used for applying negative pressure to ink, this negative pressure be enough to and the record head 105 that is used for discharge ink ' the meniscus that produces of nozzle place keep active force to balance each other, prevent leak ink from the ink discharge unit thus.
Record head 105 ' can come discharge ink by various ink discharge methods for example uses those methods of electrothermal transducer (heater) and piezoelectric element.When using electrothermal transducer, the heat of vaporization ink that utilizes electrothermal transducer to produce utilizes evaporation energy to discharge ink droplet from nozzle.
The internal structure of ink tank 1 is not limited to the above-mentioned structure that comprises the chamber that is used to store porous member and be used for directly storing the member of ink.For example, the inboard of ink tank complete filling porous member basically.In addition, as a kind of replacement of porous member, for example the bag shape member made of rubber can be with acting on the mechanism that produces negative pressure for elastomeric material, and wherein elastomeric material produces the tension force that is used to increase its capacity.In this case, ink directly is stored in bag shape member, and the tension force that produces by bag shape member applies negative pressure to ink.In addition, can use the ink spatial accommodation that forms by flexible material to small part.In this case, the ink spatial accommodation is filling ink only, produces negative pressure by applying elastic acting force to flexible material.
Shown in Fig. 3 A and 3B, luminescence unit 101 comprises the light-emitting component of for example LED that is used to send visible light, the memory element of the information that storage will be described later, and the control element that is used to control luminescence unit 101, this luminescence unit 101 is set on the face inward-facing surface of the control substrate 100 that comprises in the ink tank 1.In the present embodiment, memory element and control element are integrated in the IC plug-in unit 103 that is provided with on the substrate 100.
The signal of telecommunication that IC plug-in unit 103 receives from connector 152 by pad 102, control element is luminous according to this signal of telecommunication control luminescence unit 101.The minimizing of light quantity when entering into light guide member 121 in order to be suppressed at the light that sends from luminescence unit 101, with substrate 100 be arranged so that luminescence unit 101 be positioned at light guide member 121 light entrance surface 123 near.
Shown in Fig. 2 B, the light entrance surface 123 of the end of the light that sends from luminescence unit 101 by being arranged on light guide member 121 enters into light guide member 121, through light guide member 121, arrives the display unit 122 that presents light to the user.As mentioned above, luminescence unit 101 sends visible light, and described light is spread, thereby produces a plurality of light A1-A3.
In the present embodiment, the shell of ink tank 1 is made by polypropylene.Because light guide member 121 becomes one with the shell of ink tank 1, so light guide member 121 is also made by polypropylene.Polyacrylic refractive index is 1.49, and the refractive index of air is 1.00.Therefore, according to the following Snell law of refraction, this law is represented as:
n1·sinθ1=n2.sinθ2
The refraction critical angle of the boundary between polypropylene and air is defined as about 43 °.
Therefore, at the incidence angle θ that the point (i) shown in Fig. 2 B is located is 43 ° or the bigger boundary generation total reflection of light between polypropylene (light guide member 121) and air, and in light guide member 121, arrive display unit 122 after the total reflection repeatedly, shown in arrow A 1 and A3.In addition, incidence angle θ passes air less than 43 ° light transmission, can not arrive display unit 122.
As mentioned above, luminescence unit 101 and display unit 122 are separated from each other, and are provided for the light guiding elements 121 that luminescence unit 101 is connected with display unit 122 optics on ink tank 1.Thereby provide such structure with low cost, described structure allows luminescence unit 101 and display unit 122 is arranged on the optimum position and do not need to use the meeting that is used for power supply or signal exchange to damage the wiring of visual and operability.Therefore display unit 122 freely can be arranged on the position that can guarantee user's visuality.The user can check the luminance of display unit 122 with vision, and identifies and this luminance information corresponding the information of ink tank 1 (for example about).In addition, because the shell of light guide member 121 and ink tank 1 is an one, therefore, prevent to increase significantly manufacturing cost.
With the information of the corresponding ink tank 1 of the luminance of display unit 122 can be, for example about the installment state of ink tank 1, the installation site of ink tank 1 or the information of residual ink amount.Can pass through the ON/OFF of the luminance of control luminescence unit 101, perhaps control the illumination mode (flicker etc.) of display unit 122, present this information.Information about the installment state of ink tank 1 shows whether ink tank 1 is installed fully.Information about the installation site of ink tank 1 shows whether ink tank 1 is installed in the suitable installed position on the support, for example is in according to the ink color that is equipped with in the ink tank 1 and definite installed position.Information about residual ink amount shows the ink that whether leaves q.s in the ink tank 1.
When making ink tank 1, carry out the luminous validation process of luminescence unit 101, check the light quantity that luminescence unit 101 sends simultaneously.Determine luminous quantity from luminescence unit 101 by the light intensity that light guide member 121 leads to display unit 122 by utilizing sensor to detect.Then, the storage information corresponding in the memory element that in IC plug-in unit 103, comprises with the intensity that is detected.For example the luminous intensity from display unit 122 output is divided into four grades, is stored in the memory element in the IC plug-in unit 103 with a corresponding information in four grades.Simultaneously, the date of the color of the ink that for example holds in the ink tank 1 (as the color ID of the peculiar information of liquid container), peculiar code that each ink tank 1 differs from one another, ink tank 1 filling ink and the out of Memory of supplying with the quantity of ink of ink tank 1 also are stored in the memory element.
Fig. 4 is the perspective view of ink-jet printer 200, wherein can install and the similar ink tank of above-mentioned ink tank, to write down operation.Fig. 5 is that ink-jet printer 200 shown in Figure 4 is being led the perspective view that covers under 201 open states.Ink-jet printer 200 according to the present embodiment can receive ink tank 1K, 1Y, 1M and the 1C that contains black (K) ink, yellow (Y) ink, magenta (M) ink and cyan (C) ink respectively.
As shown in Figure 4, the printer 200 according to the present embodiment comprises: printer main body, the row's paper disc 203 that is provided with at place, printer main body front side, the automatic sheet feeder (ASF) 202 that is provided with at printer main body rear side place.Printer main body has and comprises the major part that is used in the mechanism of record operation motion balladeur train, and record head and ink tank are installed on the described balladeur train, and this major part is covered by body cover 201 and other housing parts.Printer main body also is provided with operating unit 213, and it comprises display unit, power switch and the reset switch that is used for showing the state of printer 200 when body cover 201 opens and closes.
As shown in Figure 5, when opening body cover 201, the user can see is carrying record head 105 and ink tank 1K, near the zone the 1Y, the mobile range of the balladeur train 205 of 1M and 1C and this mobile range.Below for for simplicity, only represent ink tank 1 simply with Reference numeral 1.When opening body cover 201, as shown in the figure, the execution sequence operation is used for balladeur train 205 is moved to basically center (following also be referred to as jar change a position) automatically.When balladeur train 205 was in jar replacing position, the user can change each ink tank 1 with new ink tank.
In ink-jet printer 200 according to the present embodiment, head unit 105 comprise the chip record head 105 corresponding with the shades of colour ink '.Along with balladeur train 205 moves along direction shown in the arrow X, record head 105 ' scan recording media, for example paper.In scan recording media, by writing down operation to the recording medium discharge ink.In particular, balladeur train 205 can be slidably engaged with the leading axle 207 that extends along balladeur train 205 moving directions, and by the balladeur train motor with and transmission mechanism move along the main scanning direction shown in the arrow X.With black (K) ink, yellow (Y) ink, magenta (M) ink and the corresponding record head 105 of cyan (C) ink ' control circuit of basis from printer main body emissions data discharge ink by flexible cable 206 transmission.To deliver to row's paper disc 203 by the paper advance mechanism that comprises feeding-in roll, exit roller by the recording medium (not shown) that automatic sheet feeder 202 is carried.The head unit 105 that comprises the ink tank support is removably mounted on the balladeur train 205.In addition, as mentioned above, ink tank 1 is removably mounted on the head unit 105.
In the record operation, record head 105 ' when main scanning direction moves, spray ink to recording medium, thus with record head 105 ' the corresponding regional enterprising line item of effective width in nozzle setting area (nozzle is along the setting area of the direction vertical with main scanning direction).Then before the main scanning of the next circulation of beginning, paper advance mechanism along the sub scanning direction shown in the arrow Y according to corresponding or less than above-mentioned effective width apart from conveying recording medium.Repeat these processes with recording occurring continuously image on recording medium.The record head 105 that moves with balladeur train 205 ' the place, end of moving area, the recovery unit (not shown) is set, it comprise be used to cover each record head 105 ' the cap of nozzle surface.Record head 105 ' move to the position that recovery unit is set at interval according to preset time, and carry out renewal process, for example pilot injection.
Head unit 105 ' have the tank bracket 150 that is used for each ink tank 1, and be provided with and each ink tank 1 corresponding connector 152, as mentioned above.The pad 102 that is provided with on each connector 152 and the corresponding ink tank 1 that is connected to tank bracket 150 contacts and is electrically connected.Therefore, make the luminous component that comprises in each ink tank 1 101 luminous or make its flicker according to the performed predefined procedure of recording equipment.Therefore, the luminescence unit 101 by correspondence luminous can present the information relevant with the state of each ink tank 1.
In particular, change the position at above-mentioned ink tank, when amount of ink remaining tails off in ink tank 1 for example, the luminous component 101 luminous or flickers of each ink tank 1.Come the light of selfluminous cell 101 to be directed to display unit 122, thereby display unit 122 send the light that meeting is seen by the user continuously or off and on by light guide member 121.Perhaps, when being in jar ink tank 1 corresponding under the situation of changing the position when balladeur train 205 and correctly being installed in the precalculated position, also can connect luminescence unit 101.In this case, come the light of selfluminous cell 101 to be directed to display unit 122, thereby display unit 122 send the light that meeting is seen by the user continuously by light guide member 121.With record head 105 ' ink discharge control similar, control luminescence unit 101 in each ink tank 1 by flexible cable 206 to each ink tank 1 transmitting control data (control signal) by the control circuit from printer main body.
Fig. 6 is presented at the control circuit 300 in the printer main body and the view of the signal routing example between the control substrate 100 in the ink tank 1.
Comprise the holding wire (bus connection) that all four ink tanks 1 are shared according to the signal routing of the present embodiment.Four holding wires that are used for ink tank 1 comprise power supply signal line ' VDD ', ground signalling line ' GND ', control signal wire ' DATA ', and clock cable ' CLK '.The function element that power supply signal line ' VDD ' and ground signalling line ' GND ' are used for the luminescence unit 101 in the driving ink tank 1 that IC plug-in unit 103 comprises provides power supply.Control signal wire ' DATA ' will be used to make luminescence unit 101 luminous or make the control signal (control data) of luminescence unit 101 flickers be sent to IC plug-in unit 103 from control circuit 300, and will be as described below.Clock cable ' CLK ' transmits the clock signal that is used for control signal.
In the present embodiment, description is comprised the structure of four holding wires.But the quantity of holding wire is not limited to four.For example, transmit ground signalling, can omit ground signalling line ' GND ' by utilizing other structures.In addition, holding wire ' CLK ' and holding wire ' DATA ' can be integrated into a holding wire.In this case, needn't provide holding wire ' DATA ', can reduce the quantity of the line in the flexible cable 206 for each ink tank 1.
The bus that is used for the present embodiment connects the cost that can effectively reduce the printer with a plurality of ink tanks 1.For comparing,, wherein provide holding wire ' DATA ' for each ink tank 1 with considering to have the printer of eight ink tanks 1 that are used for eight kinds of colors.In this structure, need be used for eight holding wires ' DATA ' of eight ink tanks 1 and eight ink tanks 1 shared power supply signal line ' VDD ', ground signalling line ' GND ' and clock cable ' CLK '.Therefore, need ten holding wires altogether, this can cause the complexity wiring in flexible cable 206.As a result, increased cost.On the contrary, in the bus of the present embodiment connected, no matter how much quantity of the ink tank of installing 1 has, the quantity of holding wire all was four.Therefore, bus of the present invention is connected with and is beneficial to the printer with a plurality of ink tanks that are used for different colours.
As mentioned above, the control substrate 100 in each ink tank 1 comprises the IC plug-in unit 103 of the signal driving of transmitting via four holding wires and the luminescence unit of being controlled by IC plug-in unit 103 101.
Fig. 7 is the schematic diagram that is presented at the sequential chart of the relation of control circuit 300 between the luminous sequential of the LED (light-emitting component) in packet that holding wire ' DATA ' transmits and the luminescence unit 101 that comprises in the printer main body in ink tank 1.As mentioned above, according to the present embodiment four ink tanks 1 that are used for four chromatic inks are installed on printer.But,, the structure that comprises three ink tanks 1 (1Y, 1M and 1C) that are used for yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) ink is described below for the ease of understanding.
Each packet that transmits from the control circuit 300 of printer comprises the signal of LED open/close state of luminescence unit 101 of representing one color ID three ink tanks 1 and being used for being controlled at the ink tank 1 of representative.In particular, ' DATA ' shown in Figure 7 comprises ' C opens ', the packet of ' M opens ' and ' Y opens ' that begins from the figure left side.In these packets, ' C ', ' M ' and ' Y ' are color ID, and ' opening ' of color ID back is ' opening ' signal that is used for corresponding LED.These packets in ' DATA ' are as being used for the ink tank 1C of cyan, being used for the ink tank 1M of magenta ink and being used for the OPEN of the luminescence unit 101 that the ink tank 1Y of yellow ink comprises.In addition, the packet of the back in ' DATA ' ' C pass ' and ' M pass ' are as the instruction of closing the luminescence unit 101 among ink tank 1C and the 1M.In these packets, ' C ' and ' M ' is color ID, and ' pass ' that is connected in color ID back is ' pass ' signal that is used for corresponding LED.' null ' shows signal is not provided in Fig. 7.
When the control element in the IC plug-in unit 103 that comprises in each ink tank 1 received packet as above-mentioned instruction, the color ID that control element will be stored in the memory element in the IC plug-in unit 103 compared with color ID in being included in packet.When two color ID were unmatched, control element was just ignored the ON/OFF instruction of color ID back in the packet.On the contrary, in the time of two color ID couplings, control element responds to the ON/OFF instruction of color ID back in the packet.For example, when the packet in ' DATA ' was ' C opens ', the control element of IC plug-in unit 103 that is used for the ink tank 1C of cyan responded this instruction, and opens the luminescence unit 101 in the IC plug-in unit 103.On the contrary, the control element in the IC plug-in unit 103 of other ink tanks 1M and 1Y can not respond this instruction.Therefore, connect, can open and close each luminescence unit 101 in each ink tank 1 individually by bus.
In Fig. 7, t (C opens) and t (C pass) are presented at luminescence unit 101 among the ink tank 1C in response to packet ' C opens ' and ' C pass ' and the time that opens and closes.In addition, time when t (M opens) and t (M pass) are presented at luminescence unit 101 among the ink tank 1M and open and close in response to packet ' M opens ' and ' M pass ', the time when t (Y opens) is presented at luminescence unit 101 among the ink tank 1Y and opens in response to packet ' Y opens '.Although do not show among Fig. 7 that the time representation the when luminescence unit 101 among the ink tank 1Y is closed is t (Y opens).
Because the difference in making, even will be connected to same circuit as the LED of the light-emitting component in the luminescence unit 101 and apply onesize electric current, LED also may send different light quantities.Therefore, for each ink tank 1, the light quantity of sending in the luminescence unit 101 from ink tank 1 may be different.In addition, light guide member 121 also may be because of manufacturing variation have different separately photoconduction performances, so exists the danger that may reduce the light quantity that light guide member 121 guided.As a result, in the light quantity that display unit 122 is guided, may produce very big difference.
In the present embodiment, control circuit 300 in the printer main body is controlled the light quantity that each luminescence unit 101 sends according to the light quantity class information of storing in the unit interval in the memory element of the IC of correspondence plug-in unit 103, the luminous intensity that described light quantity class information is just exported the display unit 122 of correspondence is divided into the class information of four grades.In particular, for the ink tank 1 that sends high-strength light from display unit 122, reduce the luminous drive pulse signal width of LED that is used for making ink tank 1.On the contrary, for the ink tank 1 that sends LOIHT from display unit 122, increase the luminous drive pulse signal width of LED that is used for making ink tank 1.Therefore, the brightness that can reduce between each display unit 122 in each ink tank 1 changes.
In order to utilize the brightness of control circuit 300 each display unit 122 of control, the IC plug-in unit 103 that is provided with in each ink tank 1 has the function that the light quantity class information is sent to control circuit 300 together with its color ID.When control circuit 300 receives color ID and light quantity class information, control circuit 300 is used for the interval of ' opening ' time He ' pass ' time of corresponding LED by increase, reduces to have the brightness that high-grade ink tank 1 just has the LED in the ink tank 1 of bright display unit 122.For this reason, control module 300 produces ' DATA ' for example shown in Figure 7 according to the light quantity class information.In this case, according to ' DATA ', control element among the ink tank 1C has the drive pulse signal of 25% luminous load for corresponding LED produces, the control element among the ink tank 1M has the drive pulse signal of 50% luminous load for corresponding LED produces.
When being set at ' opening ' continuously, drive pulse signal has 100% load.When ' opening ' time is that repetition ' is opened ' and half of the time quantum of ' pass ' time, the load of drive pulse signal is 50%, when ' opening ' time be repetition ' open ' and ' close, time quantum 1/4th the time, the load of drive pulse signal is 25%.For example, when time interval that pulse signal is set at ' opening ' when being constant, can be just drive pulse signal switches to ' opening ' in time quantum frequency come assumed load.When the luminous load of LED reduces to 25%, 50% etc.,, can in eye-observation, find the LED deepening according to the drive pulse signal of modulation like this.
Control circuit 300 increases have low-grade ink tank 1 and just have the brightness that shows slinkingly the LED in the ink tank 1 that shows unit 122.For this reason, control module 300 produces ' DATA ' for example shown in Figure 7 according to the light quantity class information.Therefore, the control element among the ink tank 1Y has the drive pulse signal of 100% maximum luminous load for corresponding LED produces, make LED luminous continuously thus.Therefore the brightness of finding LED in eye-observation is in high-high brightness.
Usually, when existing light-emitting component, for example brightness to be the LED of twice of common light-emitting component,, the brightness of light-emitting component can be reduced to common level by being 50% with luminous load setting.Therefore, by the light quantity class information is associated with luminous load, the brightness that can reduce between each display unit 122 of each ink tank 1 changes.When frequency is 50Hz or lower the time, it is flash of light that the flicker of the light-emitting component by setting for example LED that luminous load causes can be identified by the human eye usually.Therefore, can for example be that flicker frequency is 100Hz or more parts with luminous load setting.
Fig. 8 A and 8B are the sequential charts that shows the luminous pattern of the LED that is used as light-emitting component.
Fig. 8 A shows the user can be identified as the example of LED at the luminous pattern of flicker by enough eyes.With reference to figure 8A, with light period and close the cycle repeat to be identified as passage of scintillation light.Fig. 7 is corresponding to the part of the light period of Fig. 8 A.Fig. 8 B has shown that the user can be identified as the example of LED at luminous continuously luminous pattern with eyes.Fig. 8 B is corresponding to the part of the light period among Fig. 8 A.In Fig. 8 A and 8B, beginning from the top is 25%, 50% and 100% with luminous load setting in turn.Open and close LED as shown in Figure 7 according to light period that is higher than Fig. 8 A and the frequency (100Hz or more) of closing the repetition rate in cycle, but thereby can control brightness (when load is 100%, LED can not open and close, because LED opens continuously).
In addition, by with the luminous pattern combination shown in Fig. 8 A and the 8B, can make display unit 122 be shown as this display unit 122 to the user is in flicker or luminous continuously.In this case, the brightness that can reduce the display unit 122 between each ink tank 1 changes, and can suitably show the information about each ink tank 1.
In the present embodiment, each ink tank 1 is provided with and light is guided to display unit 122 thinks that the user presents the light guide member 121 of light.But, light-emitting component can be arranged so that the user directly can watch light-emitting component.In this case, can ignore difference between each light guide member 121.Therefore, the light quantity class information depends on the variation of the light quantity of sending from light-emitting component.
Second embodiment
In above-mentioned first embodiment, control circuit in the printer main body 300 control LED's (light-emitting component) is luminous, so that present information about the residual ink amount in each ink tank 1 etc. for the user.In addition, control circuit 300 also carries out control procedure according to the light quantity class information of storage in each ink tank 1, to reduce the variation of the light quantity that LED sends.But, also can be used to reduce the control procedure that light quantity changes by the control element in the IC plug-in unit 103 that in each ink tank 1, comprises.
In second embodiment according to the present invention, control element in the IC plug-in unit 103 that comprises in each ink tank 1 carries out control procedure according to the light quantity class information of storing in the memory element in IC plug-in unit 103, to reduce the variation of the light quantity that LED sends.
Fig. 9 is the exemplary plot that shows the circuit structure of the IC plug-in unit 103 that comprises in each ink tank 1, shows the feature of second embodiment of the invention.Similar with first embodiment, the power line and the earth connection of the circuit in the IC plug-in unit 103 is connected to printer main body, thereby can provides electric energy from it.
With reference to figure 9, circuit comprises decoder 1101, shift register 1102 and o controller 1103.Light quantity level data (class information) 1104 is stored in the included memory element (information memory cell) 1120 of IC plug-in unit 103.Provide data transmission clock 1105 from printer main body, and use jointly by information memory cell 1120.Also provide luminous permission signal 1106 and continuous luminous signal 1107 from printer main body.Drive signal 1108 and be used for making the LED 101A that is included in luminescence unit 101 luminous, the data setting that load signal 1109 is used for decoding is at shift register 1102.Transistor 1110 drives signal 1108 switchings according to LED and opens and close, and LED 101A is as the light-emitting component in the luminescence unit 101.The current-limiting resistance 1112 that is used for LED101A is installed on the outside of IC plug-in unit 103 or is arranged on IC plug-in unit 103.
Figure 10 is the sequential chart that is adopted when driving the circuit with structure shown in Figure 9.
Data transmission clock 1105 is offered continuously by bus connects a plurality of ink tanks 1 that connected.The read operation of memory element 1120 and write operation and LED 101A open or the transmission and the data transmission clock 1105 of out code carry out synchronously.Decode by 1101 pairs of light quantity level data 1104 of decoder, thereby obtain load control signal 1121.According to the present embodiment, three bits of light quantity level data 1104 usefulness are represented in eight grades, and wherein ' 000 ' corresponding to minimum brightness, and ' 111 ' corresponding to the highest brightness.
When luminous permission signal 1106 was set to height (H) level, load signal 1109 was switched to the H level of the width corresponding with the single cycle of data transmission clock 105, and inputed to shift register 1102.When load signal 1109 is set to the H level, assumed load control signal 1121 in the bistable multivibrator in shift register 1102 (flip-flop).After having set load control signal 1121, transmit signal continuously by the bistable multivibrator in the shift register 1102, and input to o controller 1103 as serial data.Then, the AND that carries out serial data and luminous permission signal 1106 handles, and output is fed back to the serial input of shift register 1102.Afterwards, shift register 1102 continuously output have by with represented eight grades (0-7) of level data 1104 in the signal of a corresponding pattern that class information determined.Therefore, as shown in figure 10, according to the signal that shift register 1102 is exported, a corresponding LED in generation and eight grades (0-7) drives signal 1108.
Transistor 1110 is connected to the cathode terminal of LED 101A, and power supply is connected to the anode tap of LED 101A, and resistance 1112 is arranged on therebetween.Therefore, can to drive signal 1108 according to LED luminous for LED101A.Transistor 1110 can be arranged on the outside of IC plug-in unit 103 chips, and what the power supply of LED 101A needn't be with logic circuitry is identical.When LED driving signal 1108 was in the H level, transistor 1110 was opened, and applies electric current to LED 101A, thereby makes LED 101A luminous.When LED driving signal 1108 was in the L level, transistor 1110 was closed, and LED101A is not luminous.
Therefore, the class information according to representing one of eight grades (0-7) opens and closes LED 101A with high speed repeatedly, thereby can control the brightness by User Recognition.In particular, similar with first embodiment, when the display unit 122 of the ink tank 1 of correspondence is dark, just represent low-grade the time when the class information of corresponding ink tank 1, increase the luminous load of LED 101A.On the other hand, when the display unit 122 of the ink tank 1 of correspondence is bright, just represent high-grade the time, reduce the luminous load of LED 101A when the class information of corresponding ink tank 1.Therefore, drive signal 1108, the luminous load of control LED 101A according to the LED corresponding with class information.Therefore, similar with first embodiment, in all ink tanks 1, the brightness at display unit 122 places all is constant.In the present embodiment, when the represented hierarchy level of the class information of ink tank 1 is ' 0 ', be 100% maximum with the luminous load setting of the LED 101A of correspondence, as shown in figure 10, thereby LED 101A is luminous continuously.The continuous luminous of LED 101A presents high-high brightness for, eyes.
The AND of o controller 1103 usefulness serial datas and luminous permission signal 1106 handles the signal removal LED that is obtained and drives signal 1108.In particular, when luminous permission signal 1106 was set to the L level, LED drove signal 1108 and does not also start.In longer time time that calculates than { (amount of bits of shift register 1102) * (cycle of data transmission clock 105) }, luminous permission signal 1106 is set at the L level, thereby removes the data that are stored in the shift register 1102.
In addition, when continuous luminous signal 1107 was in the H level, no matter the state of level data 1104 and luminous permission signal 1106, LED 101A was luminous continuously.When will determine the installation site of corresponding ink tank 1, the continuous luminous of LED 101A is effective.In addition, when the luminance level of measuring LED 101A or memory element 1120 are in original state and brightness degree data 1104 still undetermined the time, luminous continuously also is effective.Therefore, by continuous luminous signal 1107 is set in the H level, can be so that LED101A be luminous continuously.
The result who measures during by ink tank 1 shipment determines to be stored in the light quantity level data 1104 in the memory element 1120.In particular, in the time of shipment ink tank 1, make LED 101A luminous, measuring the brightness of display unit 122, and data that will be corresponding with measurement result are as level data 1104 storages.
Figure 11 is the view that shows the method example be used to measure display unit 122 brightness.
With reference to Figure 11, the light quantity measuring circuit 1121 that is used to measure light quantity comprises the phototransistor as light receiving element.But the element that can use other is as light receiving element.When using above-mentioned continuous luminous signal 1107, even when also not having storage level signal 1104 in original state when, LED 101A also can be luminous continuously.The brightness of when LED101A is luminous continuously, measuring display unit 122.Because the influence of the precision of LED 101A and resistance 1112, lot size variance etc., the brightness of luminous LED 101A has individual difference continuously.But by setting that level signal 1104 can reduce because the brightness variations that individual difference causes, thereby the brightness measured according to light quantity measuring circuit 1121 can be steady state value with the brightness settings of each display unit 122.
When measuring the brightness of display unit 122, measurement result also can be subjected to the influence of the performance variation of light guide member 121.Therefore, can be by setting level data 1104 according to measurement result, and under the influence that not changed by light guide member 121, be steady state value with the brightness settings of display unit 122.The luminous of LED 101A can directly be that the user is observed.In this case, just do not comprise the performance variation of light guide member 121 among the brightness measurement result of LED 101A, and change setting level data 1104 according to the light quantity that LED 101A sends.In addition, when in printer main body, being provided with, can confirm the installation site of the ink tank 1 in printer main body with the similar circuit of light quantity measuring circuit 1121.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the control element in the IC plug-in unit 103 that comprises in each ink tank 1 carries out control procedure, to reduce the variation of the light quantity that LED 101A sends.In addition, similar with first embodiment, carry out control procedure by the control circuit in printer main body 300, be used to make LED 101A luminous, thereby present information about ink remaining amount in each ink tank 1 etc. to the user.
Other embodiments
Can be identified for making the luminous pattern of the light-emitting component (for example LED) in the luminescence unit arbitrarily, to present information to the user about ink remaining amount in the ink tank etc.For example,, can change flicker at interval, perhaps carry out continuously luminous according to the importance of the information that will present.In addition, the information that presents with the luminous form of luminescence unit is not limited to the information about ink remaining amount, can for example be the information whether each ink tank is correctly installed.
In addition, to the structure of the type of the light-emitting component that comprises in the luminescence unit, display unit and be arranged on luminescence unit and corresponding display unit between light guide member structure without limits, luminescence unit can be used as display unit, and omits light guide member.Under any situation, by according to information control luminescence unit about the brightness (light quantity or light intensity) of the luminescence unit that comprises in the ink tank and display unit, can be so that the brightness constancy of the luminescence unit in each ink tank.Ink tank can integrate with corresponding record head in the ink-jet box.
The present invention can be used for various types of liquid containers, is used for the various liquid outside the ink that stored record equipment uses.For example, the processing solvent that is used for recording medium can be stored, in order to improve record performance or resistance to water in liquid container according to the present invention.
Although the reference example embodiment has been described the present invention, be appreciated that to the invention is not restricted to disclosed exemplary.The scope of appended claim should be determined according to the explanation of broad sense, thereby comprise all improvement, equivalent structure and function.

Claims (4)

1. ink tank that is used to be installed on the ink jet recording device, described ink jet recording device comprises the installation unit that ink tank can be installed, and described ink tank accommodates the ink that is used for ink jet recording device, and described ink tank comprises: luminescence unit; The electric contact of the signal of telecommunication that reception is provided by ink jet recording device; Light guide member, it comprises the light entrance unit that is used to receive the light that described luminescence unit sends; The display light outlet port unit, the light that its output enters by described light entrance unit is spread the light that the back produces; And information storage medium, it stores the peculiar information of described ink tank,
Wherein, described information storage medium stores is divided into the class information that a plurality of grades are set by sending the light quantity of exporting from described display light outlet port unit via described light guide member from described luminescence unit.
2. ink tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein, become big by being used in from display light outlet port unit output only bright the time that the luminous drive pulse signal width of described luminescence unit diminishes and from display light outlet port unit output only dark the time, being used in the luminous drive pulse signal width of described luminescence unit, reduce the variation of the light quantity sent from described luminescence unit.
3. ink tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein, by from display light outlet port unit output only bright the time, light period being shortened and from display light outlet port unit output only dark the time, making light period elongated, reduce the variation of the light quantity sent from described luminescence unit.
4. ink tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the glow frequency of described luminescence unit is greater than or equal to 100Hz.
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US7458667B2 (en) 2008-12-02
CN101774301A (en) 2010-07-14
CN101774301B (en) 2012-11-14
CN101774302B (en) 2012-06-20
JP4533127B2 (en) 2010-09-01
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US20060139421A1 (en) 2006-06-29
JP2006181722A (en) 2006-07-13

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